Dec. 29, 1970: the first time that human consumption outstripped the planet’s capability to produce. Since then the date has been creeping forward each year

How we live: The energy we use

Top energy users (by units of energy: MTOE):

China
U.S.
India
Russia
Japan

FACT: Americans constitute 5% of the world’s population but consume 24% of the world’s energy.

On average, one American consumes as much energy as

2 Japanese,

6 Mexicans,

13 Chinese,

31 Indians,

128 Bangladeshis,

307 Tanzanians

370 Ethiopians

Human waste of resources

In order from most to least, the top 10 greediest resource users per capita are:

1. Qatar

2. Kuwait

3. United Arab Emirates

4. Denmark

5. United States

6. Belgium

7. Australia

8. Canada

9. The Netherlands

10. Ireland

Qatar: The worst offenders: the typical resident requires the resources of 6.5X what the earth can produce.

United States: Each residents takes 4X the earth’s resources to support the global population.

UK: Consumes and produces waste at a rate 3.5 X greater than it can sustain.

China’s total ecological footprint is smaller, per capita, than in Europe or North America but its footprint is the heaviest in the world in raw size, because of its huge population.

Trash Champions of the World

Ireland: 1,675 pounds of garbage on average per person a year
United States: 1,630 pounds per person; the average American generates 52 tons of garbage by age 75.
Iceland: 1,610 pounds
Australia: 1,540 pounds
Denmark: 1,475 pounds

What we eat, and how much:

Dietary energy consumption per person around the world. The dietary energy consumption per person is the amount of food, in kcal per day, for each individual in the total population.